The Dalton Gang's last robbery

On July 14, 1892 the gang made its last train robbery at Adair I. T.. Once again the train was loaded with deputies, but the gang was so quick and quite with their work that the marshals didn't realized the train was being rob until the job was almost completed. Unloading from the train the marshals engaged in a fierce but brief gun battle with the bandits. During the battle an innocent bystander was killed and another one wounded. the bandits would escape unharmed with an undisclosed amount of cash.

After the Adair robbery the Gang split up and went their own ways. With the law on their trail, the Dalton boys figured to make one last robbery and get enough money to leave the country. A plan was devised to rob two banks in the same town at the same time, thus getting enough money to leave the country, and also go down in history by accomplishing something that no other outlaw gang had ever attempted. The perfect town for the robbery was Coffeyville, KS, the Dalton boys old home town.

If you were going to rob 2 banks in Coffeyville, KS what would you do with any money/gold you had on you.? Would you take it into town with you or would you cache it the night before and come back for it after the robbery?

The reason I am asking is because I know where the Dalton's camped the night before the attempted robbery in Coffeyville, KS.? A friend of mine ownes the property and has given me permission to search it.? Researching the best I can, I can't find any stories of any buried caches but since they were getting ready to do this last robbery and then leave the country what do? you think they did with their money,did they take it with them, or did they leave it somewhere so they could come back for it after they made their withdraw?? My research didn't mention them being killed with a large amount of money on them.

It isn't known (or at least not published) how much the Adair Train Robbery was worth but afterwards the railroad put a $5000 bounty on each of the gang's heads. The robbery must have been sizeable. http://www.gunslinger.com/adair.htm

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

The Adair Robbery was suppose to be very large. That is why they decided to leave the country after the bank job in KS. The Railroad never disclosed how much they got away with. Remember the train was being protected by a special detachment of 8 railroad guards.

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

Here's one thing to keep in mind-being on the run between heists is not cheap. You have to pay a lot of premium for fresh horses, food, etc. They were well known all throughout the territory yet were able to stay ahead of the law and I would think they would make sure to keep the various families taken care of that took care of them.

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

Hey dathvick, I think you maybe on the right track? I would think that they had a hideout not to far south of coffey town, maybe after hunting the campsite you might get some ideas on where there hide out was, from what I understand that they had family in that area! I would hunt the campsite and take GPS reading, then go to google earth or terra server or usa maps, and extend out from there looking for caves, cabin's ect. that is just my thoughts. I LIVE CLOSE TO YOU. See Ya

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

David Dary has a couple interesting books, "True tales of old-time Kansas" and "Cowboy Culture". Also, kinda before that time, but Elmo Ingenthron's "Borderland Rebellion" deals with parts of that area. He doesn't rate the Dalton's with a comment though.

Tad in one of'em about Dalton but the thing that always stopped me: If it was there, why didn't Emmett go back and get it?

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

Remember he was in prison for 14 years after the attack and I am sure everyone was eyeballing him when he came close to town. I know he did return to Coffeyville and had a tombstone made and placed on the grave after he got out. Even if they didn't bury a cache, maybe they dropped me a coin or two.

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

There's a cave of sorts about 12 miles from my house where the Daltons hid out from time to time along with a couple other outlaw gangs. It's a large rock outcroping that over hangs the side of a bluff above a creek. It's about 90 miles due South of Coffeeville. When I was in Highschool the local kids use to throw keg parties up under there and were never detected by the local law. I don't know if they ever cached any treasure there, I doubt it as the place is well known and no one has ever seemed to be richer for their visiting there. Monty

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

For those interested in the Dalton Gang, I highly recommend Emmett Dalton's book: "Beyond the Law", originally published in 1918, reprinted in 2002 by Pelican Publishing Co. When reading it carefully a few years ago, I don't recall ever finding any outright treasure stories in it but I do remember that some of the places and events Dalton wrote about would make very good metal detecting leads to follow up on.
~Texas Jayhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodybillandersonmystery

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

Originally Posted by OutBack Duo

Remember he was in prison for 14 years after the attack and I am sure everyone was eyeballing him when he came close to town. I know he did return to Coffeyville and had a tombstone made and placed on the grave after he got out. Even if they didn't bury a cache, maybe they dropped me a coin or two.

Re: The Dalton Gang's last robbery

I have looked for 2 Dalton gangs loot in eastern kansas and both times have been too late to take the loot as someone got their before I did and didn't leave any thing for me to get. Was a long hard and time consuming hunt over 2 yrs and I must admit frustrating when finding i was late getting their.One never knows the disgust you have after all the work put in to it just to be late to a cache site. A real bad disgusting feeling. Failure but time goes on !!!!!